Zook – Absolute Misery
The fabric of the modern world is stronger and more expensive-looking than anything that came before it, but, seemingly, this makes everyone feel worse off for themselves. Is everyone who is crying over the past have a point, or are they misremembering how things used to be?
Perhaps people, artists especially, are simply getting a little too smart for their own good. Nowadays, they have great tools to work with, terrific textbooks to learn from, and even night classes that they can take. Of course, they’re allowed to all feel like geniuses.
But, as Zook has found out while writing a recent batch of songs, too much thinking and planning can often kill off the energy of creative thought. Was Dylan really considering the importance of each line? Wasn’t Lennon just stealing some of his favourite choruses and putting them back together in his own songs?
Zook’s “Absolute Misery” is a moody silver lining, a hushed set of beautiful melodies delivered by an artist who, by their own admission, has stopped overthinking and started doing things instinctively. The result is convincing. This piece of music will break your heart, and you won’t even know why exactly. It’s probably got a lot to do with the melodies. But there’s really no need to write a report about it, or overthink matters.
Gone Future – The Middle
Rock music has remained a refuge for artists who are haunted by dark visions and have a desire to express those to the rest of the world. It might not earn you many friends. But if you do it well enough, it will provide you with the audience’s full attention.
And while it’s easy to understand why so many artists want to cry out their blues, share their anxieties, and tell their tale of woe, not everyone is cut out for this. There are some musical artists who are merely entertainers and ought simply to stick to the leaning on the bright side of life when delivering their material.
Still, even those powered by darker urges aren’t always capable of putting those ideas into convincing music. Not everyone has the flair and light touch of a group like Gone Future. Frankly, most rock bands just moan about things that nobody cares about, or simply don’t have enough quality to make you pay attention for too long.
The failure of their rivals ought to please Gone Future, whose debut single, “The Middle”, is a fantastic dark psych-rock track on par with bands like Black Rebel Motorcycle Club or The Black Angels. This does sound like the music of the kind of band that takes great photos wearing leather jackets. But the sound is mighty convincing as well, especially the way that the lead vocals flow over that bass riff in the verse parts. This band could be something special!
